Tennessee's game at Bristol Speedway headlines SEC slate

So we've had to learn, 'What's it gonna take to run the scoreboard?' 'How do official stats run?' 'How does instant replay run?' 'Who operates the instant-replay systems?' The game clocks. It's about the game. I do remember this for sure; I got tackled one time and landed so hard in a puddle I didn't know if I was going to get up before I drowned. But what about a ball game and a NASCAR race going down simultaneously?

This marked the first football game to take place at the Bristol Motor Speedway since the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles played a 1961 exhibition game here that drew 10,000 fans to a facility that seated 20,000 at the time.

Talked about since 1998, the game at what is sometimes referred to as "the last great Colosseum" became a reality when the final agreement was announced three years ago.

The Hogs took the ball at the top of the first overtime, and Austin Allen cashed in with a third down touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle. That would shatter the NCAA single-game record of 115,109 set in 2013 at Michigan Stadium for a Michigan victory over Notre Dame.

Tennessee: QB Joshua Dobbs. "There will be a lot of people there. This is the biggest college football event, really probably the biggest event Levy Restaurants has done", Pierson said. Said Rust, "I'm excited to hear 150,000 fans cheering for two teams".

But it's still a game, and that can't be forgotten. Bristol's infield sloped to the middle but a football field needs a slope to the outside; Caldwell says making the switch required nine days of work.

In the bigger picture, the impression we'll likely be left with is that Tennessee is the more talented team, but Virginia Tech has a clearer idea of what it's doing. There is absolutely no room to talk about last weekend's football game for the Vols against a tough FBS team.

It remains to be seen how competitive a game it will be with the Volunteers entering as a pretty heavy favorite, Tennessee's struggles in Week 1 against Appalachian State could give the Hokies more hope. The Vols dropped from No. 9 in the preseason poll to 17th.

"That's why it's the first game".

"But luckily the craft is so important to it, that's why some of us old guys are still around", Hurd said with a smile. But a Virginia Tech fumble at its own five-yard line led to Tennessee's first score, and that proved to be a theme of the night. How will Evans perform in the biggest game of his career?

"Now, it's about finishing drives in the red zone and taking advantage".

Today, AP employs the latest technology to collect and distribute content - we have daily uploads covering the latest and breaking news in the world of politics, sport and entertainment.

A strong defensive effort alone won't win tonight's game, not with a star-studded Bob Shoop-coached Tennessee defense on the other side of the field capable of slowing down the Hokies.

The Hokies weren't pressed to the end of their opener, finishing with a 36-13 victory over Liberty.

Virginia Tech (1-1) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jerod Evans to Sam Rogers and a 69-yard touchdown run by tailback Travon McMillian.

And while the Vols (2-0) looked in the first quarter eerily similar to the team that almost lost to Appalachian State in their opener, they've discovered a deep threat in their passing game that's been so sorely missing.